FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 27, 2014) – Unemployment rates fell in 55 Kentucky counties between February 2013 and February 2014, while 56 county rates went up and nine counties stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Boone County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.7 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 7 percent; Fayette and Woodford counties, 7.1 percent each; Campbell, Kenton, Shelby, Warren and Webster counties, 7.3 percent each; and Simpson County, 7.4 percent.

Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 20.4 percent. It was followed by Magoffin County, 19.3 percent; Leslie County, 17.8 percent; Harlan County, 17.7 percent; Menifee County, 17.2 percent; Letcher County, 16.6 percent; Knott County, 16 percent; Bell County, 15.9 percent; Lewis County, 15.8 percent and Wolfe County, 15.7 percent.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county. The data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.